James Trafford has ‘a long way to go’ to exceed Ederson, says former Manchester City manager | OneFootball

Former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce has offered his take on James Trafford potentially being the successor to Ederson in goal at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola has welcomed Trafford into his goalkeeping department this summer, with the 22-year-old Englishman returning to his boyhood club two years on from joining hands with Vincent Kompany at Burnley for regular first-team football.

Trafford has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium and is set to challenge long-serving Ederson for the number one goalkeeping position, with Stefan Ortega Moreno expected to leave Manchester City before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

City face Palermo in their final pre-season friendly this weekend before a trip to Wolves beckons to mark their opening fixture of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign – as it remains to be seen if Guardiola will hand Trafford his first minutes following his return to Manchester.

Trafford returns to Manchester City after an incredible season at Turf Moor, having kept an impressive 29 clean sheets in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Clarets over the course of the 2024-25 campaign.

Ederson will start the new season as Guardiola’s preferred goalkeeper but Trafford will have his eye on a starting role at the Etihad Stadium sooner rather than later, especially with Ederson being allowed to enter the final year of his current deal.

City – who replaced Scott Carson with Marcus Bettinelli as third-choice goalkeeper in June – have made six new additions to their squad this summer as they bid to win a fifth Premier League title in six seasons after a disappointing third-place 2024-25 league finish.

Trafford is expected to play a crucial role for his boyhood club in the seasons to come, with former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce reminding the U-21 England international that the going will not be easy for him to replace Ederson anytime soon.

Speaking on behalf of CLUB, Pearce has insisted that Manchester City’s number one has a long way to go before he can firmly exceed Ederson’s legacy at the Etihad Stadium after re-joining the club this summer.

“I think he’s got some way to go beyond Ederson. But what you’ve got to do is sign for the future in some ways. It’s been a strange one; he’s had to leave, but a lot have had to leave City, Cole Palmer being a point in case,” said Pearce.

He continued, “I think a move will probably do him good, but he’s proved himself over a couple of years at Burnley. And I think he’s got more stature now. When he first went to Burnley, I wasn’t sure about him. I thought he was a little bit weak, could be flustered on crosses, that type of thing.

“But the esteem and the clean sheets that he was keeping last year has seemed fit that City need to invest for the future. They know him particularly well. Obviously, they’ve worked with him.

“So the character fits Manchester City. So credit to him for going back and re-signing him.”

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